ATS-Friendly Resume Templates: Free Download and Builder

What is ATS and why does it matter?

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It is software that companies use to filter resumes before a human ever sees them. In India, companies like TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Amazon, Flipkart, and most MNCs use ATS.

If your resume is not ATS-friendly, it gets rejected automatically — no matter how qualified you are.

What makes a resume ATS-friendly?

Structure matters

• Use standard section headings: "Experience", "Education", "Skills" — not creative alternatives
• Avoid tables, text boxes, columns, and graphics
• Use a single-column layout
• Stick to standard fonts (Inter, Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)

Content matters

• Include keywords from the job description
• Spell out acronyms at least once (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)")
• Use standard date formats (Jan 2024 – Present)
• Avoid headers and footers for critical information

File format matters

• PDF is preferred — it preserves formatting
• DOCX is acceptable
• Never submit as .jpg, .png, or .pages

How to check your ATS score

Carve has a built-in ATS scorer in the editor. It checks:

• Section completeness (do you have all required sections?)
• Bullet quality (are they achievement-based with metrics?)
• Formatting issues (tables, images, unusual fonts)
• Contact information completeness
• Keyword density relative to your target role

Open the editor, click "ATS" in the toolbar, and get your score instantly. Free, no signup.

Free ATS-friendly templates

Carve offers 9 professional layouts, all designed to pass ATS:

• Classic — Traditional single-column, perfect for corporate roles
• Clean — Minimal design, maximum readability
• Modern — Subtle color accents, still fully parseable
• Sidebar — Two-column but ATS-optimized (skills in main flow)
• Executive — For senior roles with leadership sections
• Academic — Publications, research, teaching sections

All templates export as PDF for free. No watermark, no signup required.

Build your ATS-friendly resume now

1. Visit carve.careers/start

2. Paste your CV or upload a Word document

3. AI structures your content into ATS-friendly sections

4. Choose a template

5. Check your ATS score in the editor

6. Export as PDF — done